Happy Birthday, Michelle Yeoh! 14 Gorgeous Vintage Photos of the Star

At 64, Michelle Yeoh remains at the peak of her powers. The legendary Malaysian actress, humanitarian, and fashion plate’s astonishing career has spanned wuxia classics (see: Ang Lee’s iconic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), action epics (Tomorrow Never Dies), poignant dramas (Memoirs of a Geisha), infectious rom-coms (Crazy Rich Asians, anyone?), musicals (Wicked), and then projects like Everything Everywhere All at Once that defy easy categorization.

Now, ahead of her turn in Blade Runner 2099 later this year opposite Hunter Schafer—and in honor of her birthday—we’re taking a nostalgic trip back to Yeoh’s early years on the scene. Herewith, some beguiling vintage photographs of the great Michelle Yeoh.

Starring in Wing Chun, directed by Yuen Woo-ping, a master of Hong Kong action cinema.

Alongside Jackie Chan at the New York City premiere of Supercop.

Michelle Yeoh and Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

Being wired for a stunt in Tomorrow Never Dies. (Lindy Hemming did the film’s chic costuming.)

Good and cozy at the Los Angeles premiere of U.S. Marshals.

Posing near Barstow, California for a story in National Geographic magazine about the globalization of culture.

Striking a daring pose near the Hollywood sign for National Geographic.

With Chow Yun-Fat in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the first non-English-language film to gross more than $100 million in the United States.

Doing the splits in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

With Sharon Stone and Christine Hakim at the Cannes premiere of Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending.

With her then partner, now husband Jean Todt at the Grand Prix of Chine in Shanghai. The same year, Todt became chief executive officer of Ferrari.

Sporting reddish curls and bedazzled denim at the MTV Asia Awards.

As Mameha in Memoirs of a Geisha, adapted from the 1997 novel by Arthur Golden.

With Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where they helped to raise money for tsunami aid.

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